https://www.scmp.com/rss/321115/feed Andrew Sewell is an associate professor and head of the Department of English at Lingnan University en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The biblical story of the shibboleth tells of how the Gileadites identified the Ephraimites by the way they pronounced the word “shibboleth”. The unfortunate Ephraimites were then prevented from crossing the River Jordan. The story finds resonance in China’s plan to bar would-be English teachers from the Philippines, because “the Chinese government does not consider Filipinos as native English speakers”. The decision may make sense for economic and political reasons, but the claimed linguistic... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2121063/china-should-choose-its-english-teachers-based-skill-not?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2121063/china-should-choose-its-english-teachers-based-skill-not?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Nov 2017 04:12:34 +0000 This is normally the time of year when EF Education First, an international language training organisation, releases its annual survey of English proficiency levels across the world. Test data is used to produce league tables, the implication being that slipping down the rankings - as Hong Kong did last year - is like being relegated from the Premier League of advanced countries and cities. READ MORE: 'Are you sure?': Academics question claim mainland cities ahead of Hong Kong in English If... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1865488/are-english-standards-really-falling-hong-kong-dont-believe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1865488/are-english-standards-really-falling-hong-kong-dont-believe?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2015 04:46:16 +0000